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I have no knowledge as to what the surprised priest thought regarding the astounding apparition thus bursting upon hihost of so of his sins However, I permitted him small space for any reflection I have ever been swift in action; ake then with the excitement of my venture, and little accustomed to hesitancy at such a time Moreover, I despised the fellow, and was not loath to be the instrument of punishment to him, and I never struck any man a deadlier bloith the bare fist than that I put in just back of his ear My posture was not the best for such exercise; nevertheless it perroan, even as I have seen a buck fall to the rifle when the ball sang straight to the heart

Indeed, so lih to relieve the sickening impression, I feared at first I had killed him--for it is a wicked blow, such as has caused deathintently at his heart, and, not knowing how soon he ht air, took precautions to keep hiainst the butt of the greatgray skirt ofas I did so the hunting knife securely hidden within my waist-belt, and to draw up the coarse, ample hood, thus better to conceal my features, after the same manner I was pleased to note Cassati wore his, were my first duties The way of procedure had been ly solved that probleuarded space between decks, of reaching the cell of the ht, lay in careful i insensible at my feet Nor in this i thus far had developed so favorably I becaht with it renewed courage and confidence The exciting incidents of the night had awakened rimly at the rare conceit of the contemplated masquerade Nor did it promise an especially difficult part to play We were of similar size, broad-shouldered, stocky men, with smoothly shaven faces, the difference therein hardly likely to be observed by careless eyes, beneath di his peculiarities of voice and manner to imitate both fairly well, so only an accident, or soue, would be apt to reveal the fraud In short, I was ar little that I should safely pass the guards Anyway, there was nothing else for it; 'twas a moment when one must cast timidity to the winds